Ice Chips: Jets' Ehlers a game-time decision vs. Blues
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Keep updated on all the injury news and roster updates from around the NHL with daily Ice Chips.
Winnipeg Jets
The first-place Jets received some good news on Monday ahead of their game against the red-hot St. Louis Blues as forward Nikolaj Ehlers and defenceman Neal Pionk both attended the morning skate wearing regular jerseys.
Ehlers, a 29-year-old left winger, missed Saturday's loss to the Utah Hockey Club after suffering a foot injury during Thursday's win against the Vegas Golden Knights. He'll be a game-time decision against the Blues on Monday.
The native of Denmark is having a career season, netting 24 goals and 39 assists over 67 games in 2024-25, his 10th year with the franchise.
Meanwhile, Pionk hasn't played since March 11 due to a lower-body injury and is "getting close" to returning, according to head coach Scott Arniel.
The 29-year-old blueliner has nine goals and 28 assists for 37 points in 66 games this season.
Defenceman Colin Miller missed the morning skate because of an illness and will also be a game-time decision.
Elsewhere, Arniel gave an update on injured centre Gabriel Vilardi, saying “we’re getting close to see with letting him go on the ice. He’s up and running here a little bit more. We’ll just go, follow along with him, kinda see where he’s at."
Winnipeg currently leads the NHL with 108 points through 77 games, just one point better than the Washington Capitals.
The Jets will take on the Blues, winners of 12 straight games, Monday night in Winnipeg.
Jets' Projected Lines vs. Blues - John Lu, TSN
F
Connor - Scheifele - Iafallo
Ehlers - Namestnikov - Perfetti
Niederreiter - Lowry - Appleton
Tanev - Barron - Anderson-Dolan
D
Morrissey - DeMelo
Samberg - Schenn
Stanley - Fleury
G
Hellebuyck
Comrie
Edmonton Oilers
Olivier Rodrigue will get his first NHL start on Monday night in Anaheim against the Ducks.
The 24-year-old was selected in the second round of the 2018 NHL Draft by the Oilers. He has 20 minutes of NHL experience, taking place on March 27 during a blowout loss to the Seattle Kraken, and allowed one goal on eight shots.
Superstar Leon Draisaitl was on the ice for the morning skate after missing the last two games with an undisclosed injury, but won't play against the Ducks.
Forward Trent Frederic will also miss Monday's game with an ankle injury that "flared up" during a shutout loss to the Los Angeles Kings on Friday. Head coach Kris Knoblauch said he'll be ready for the playoffs.
Toronto Maple Leafs
Defenceman Jake McCabe and forward David Kampf both attended an optional practice on Monday, but won't be in the lineup for the next two games, according to head coach Craig Berube.
McCabe was suffered an undisclosed injury on April 2 against the Panthers while Kampf suffered an upper-body injury in that same game.
McCabe, 31, has two goals and 21 assists over 66 games this season.
Kampf, 30, has five goals and eight assists over 59 games in 2024-25.
St. Louis Blues
The Blues will look to win their 13th straight game on Monday with Joel Hofer between the pipes against the Winnipeg Jets.
Hofer and Jordan Binnington have been stellar during St. Louis' win streak. The 24-year-old Hofer, a native of Winnipeg, has won five games during the streak, allowing just 10 goals.
Over 30 games this season, Hofer owns a 16-7-3 record with a 2.67 goals-against average and a .903 save percentage.
Utah Hockey Club
With Utah barely hanging onto faint playoff hope, the organization recalled forward Kailer Yamamoto from the Tucson Roadrunners of the American Hockey League.
The 26-year-old has 19 goals and 34 assists over 52 games in the AHL this season, adding a goal and an assist over eight games at the NHL-level.
Utah is all but eliminated from playoff contention, sitting nine points behind the Minnesota Wild for the second Wild Card spot in the Western Conference with five games remaining.
Los Angeles Kings
Winger Tanner Jeannot is now considered week-to-week with the undisclosed injury he suffered on March 25.
The 27-year-old native of Oxbow, Sask., has seven goals and six assists over 67 games with the Kings in 2024-25, his first full season in Los Angeles.